Uji

About 15 kms southwest of Kyoto, and easily accessed by both the Keihan Line and the JR Line, Uji is famous for the lovely Byodo-in Temple (the temple on the back of the ¥10 coin). It’s also famous as a tea growing area.

[Byodoin Temple Buddhist temple]

Uji Area Description

Uji is a suburb of Kyoto about 20 minutes south of Kyoto by train. The town is located on the banks of the Uji-gawa River, tucked against picturesque mountains, which are covered with tea plantations (you’ll need a car to properly explore these). While Uji isn’t one of Kyoto’s main attractions, it makes a decent half-day trip out of Kyoto for those who’ve got at least five days in the city.

Uji Highlights

• Byodo-in Temple

[Byodo-in Temple: Luciano Mortula — LGM / Shutterstock.com]

Sights And Activities In Uji

• Byodo-in Temple
  A superb Hiean-era temple in the southeast suburb of Uji, Byodo-in a brilliant place to visit for those who want to step off the beaten track.
• Ujigami-jinja Shrine
  Not much too look at, we include this small shrine because UNESCO has decided, in all its wisdom, to designate it a World Heritage Site.
• Uji-bashi Bridge
  The unique design of the Uji-bashi Bridge has figured in so many poems, novels and paintings of Japanese culture that it would be churlish not to include it here.

Getting To Uji

• By JR Line train: Take the JR Nara line from Kyoto Station and get off at Uji Station (20 minutes, ¥230).
• By Keihan Line train: Take the Keihan Main Line south toward Osaka, get off at Chushojima and switch to the Uji Line and get off at Uji Station (total journey about 30 minutes, ¥320).

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